The Rider Street Community Center: 2015 Fundraising Plan

Developing the support necessary to provide a brighter future for the children and youth of East New York.

Executive Summary

For the past 39 years, the Rider Street Community Center has provided a safe and secure environment that leads to

positive outcomes for children and youth in East New York, Brooklyn. In order for the Rider Street Community Center to

continue its strong track record of programmatic achievement, new and ambitious fiscal goals must be established and

reached. Meeting these new fundraising goals requires a strong team effort with contributions of time, talent, and

treasure from the board of directors, key staff, and dedicated volunteers. The purpose of this fundraising plan is to

outline our fundraising goals and provide a roadmap for this strong team to organize and attain these funding goals. The

fundraising plan includes:

- A case statement that outlines the rationale and justification for the 2015 fundraising effort.

- A fundraising plan that identifies prospects, sets out funding goals, describes fundraising events and outlines

strategy for achieving fundraising goals.

- A fundraising calendar that includes agreed upon tasks and deadlines for every member of the fundraising

team.

- An evaluation plan that analyzes the efficiency of the proposed support and income goals.

- Targets and Milestones that outline the incremental goals that must be reached in order to achieve success

- and The Ask script which is a fundraising tool that will be utilized by members of the fundraising team when they

ask for donations and support.

The organization’s total budget for 2014 is at $1,040,400. This fundraising plan identifies opportunities for additional

foundation fundraising, cultivation of local business connections, increased giving from individual donors, and growth in

earned income with a goal of $372,200 in new funding. With these expanded fundraising and revenue sources the

2015 budget will increase to $1,233,200. This fundraising plan was created with input from key stakeholders, including

representatives from the board of directors, staff, volunteers, and program participants’ families. The plan was

approved by the Board of Directors on May 1st, 2014 and will be operational by July 30th, 2014.

As you will see in our case statement, the programming at the Rider Street Community Center is very strong, centering

around three core programs: Three Rs Tutoring, Business Skills for Self-Sufficiency, and Performing Arts Program. There

are long waiting lists of eligible students who would like to attend these programs. The community interest in the Rider

Street Community Center’s programs reflects program participant graduation rates and college acceptance rates that are

much higher than their peers in New York City schools.

This fundraising plan is our roadmap to reach the goals of our strategic plan by raising the money necessary to support

our new and established programmatic efforts. This will allow the Rider Street Community Center to continue to fulfil its

mission to ensure children in East New York, Brooklyn have the opportunity to develop self-confidence, self-esteem, and

do well in school so that they can grow to be self-sufficient and successful in society.

Case Statement

The Rider Street Community Center (The Center) seeks to provide a safe and secure environment that can lead to

positive outcomes for children and youth. Our mission is to ensure our mission to ensure that children in East New York,

Brooklyn have the opportunity to develop self-confidence, self-esteem, and do well in school so that they can grow to be

self-sufficient and successful in society.

The Center, as it is referred to in East New York, offers a variety of after-school and summer programs designed to help

children build leadership skills, earn good grades, and learn sufficiency skills, while gaining exposure to positive role

models. These programs include:

– Three Rs Tutoring—retired schoolteachers, librarians, and other community volunteers provide academic

tutoring sessions for small groups throughout the school year.

– Business Skills for Self-Sufficiency – a program that teaches administrative and business skills to high-school

students through experiential learning under the guidance of a well-trained adult, volunteer, small business

owner. Students start and run a business, with the profits from the business being reinvested in the

program.

– Performing Arts Program– Dance and music classes offered to students providing structured learning and

performance opportunities that encourage collaboration with other students and community service

through free performances.

Programs with results

Participants in these three successful programs have a 90% program retention rate throughout the year, a higher-than

average high-school retention rate, and evidence of reduced participation in risk-taking behaviors. By viewing our

results, one can easily see why families are eager to have their students join our programs:

- In a city where only 69% of students ever graduate high school, 90% of program participants graduate high

school on time.

- Participant students have an 85% placement rate in colleges, technical schools, and/or art conservatories

immediately following high school graduation. In the six months following high school graduation, the New

York City average enrollment in higher education is 49%.

As a result of participation in our programs, students have a much higher rate of success as they navigate through high

school and prepare for college and beyond.

Meeting the demand for participation

There are long waiting lists for all three of The Center’s programs and demand for an expansion of the arts program. The

success of the Rider Street Community Center has been in spite of a crumbling infrastructure. In order to continue to

provide these high quality services that have become vital to our community, we need to raise funds for repairs and

expansion. In 2015 we will begin a capital campaign with the following goals:

- Repair and expand the dance studios and theatre to help meet demand - Purchase additional computers to expand the capacity of our tutoring and business skills programs - Provide student access to safe and appropriate materials for the technical aspect of the performing arts

program. - Implement a series of visual arts programs to meet the demand for expanded artistic expression - Add to our team of high qualified staff and volunteers to expand our capacity to meet our community’s

needs.

Case Statement (continued)

Current Support

Government and foundation support has been ongoing and strong. The Center has consistently worked with a large,

reliable group of AmeriCorps and other local volunteers and has developed an award-winning volunteer training

program. Our current donors are committed to continuing their support through $655,000 in renewable grants and

contracts and $200,000 in in-kind support.

Building on this strong current support from foundations, government funding, and volunteers, our board and key

stakeholders will play a major role in expanding connections to individual donors and opening up new relationships with

foundations and local business connections. A subcommittee of board members has been formed to focus on

maximizing The Center’s earned income revenue by using innovative, entrepreneurial tactics to increase this stream of

income.

Total budget for the current year is at $1,040,400, with $655,000 of this provided by renewable government funds, and

over $200,000 provided through in-kind. A new budget, including the costs of renovating, upgrading equipment, and

meeting the needs of the new programs is estimated at $1,233,200 with a goal of $372,200 in new funding.

Support Brooklyn Families by supporting the Rider Street Community Center

2015 represents an important year of growth for The Rider Street Community Center. By donating in 2015 you will have

a lasting impact on The Center and on the community of East New York. Your support will help The Center expand its

facilities. This expansion will allow The Center to serve more students while safeguarding the stability of The Center

through increased rental opportunities. Your donation in 2015 will also demonstrate the community’s support for the

vital programs provided by The Center. This community support will help The Rider Street Community Center make a

strong case for contributions from new donors and foundations. Meeting the 2015 fundraising goals ensures that the

children and youth of East New York continue to have a place to come in order to support their goals and dreams.

The Fundraising Plan

Individual donors The Board of Directors will take the lead to cultivate, ask, and steward individual donors in the community. Our new individuals campaign will take a strategic approach by asking those who are already invested in the Rider Street Community Center to deepen their investment with a donation.

Board members will demonstrate leadership by each committing to a minimum gift of $250.

14 board members @ $250/each = $3,500 by October 1

Board members will use their personal contacts and work in teams of two to hold house parties. Each board member is responsible for raising $1,000 from individuals at each house party.

House parties to raise $2,000 each = $14,000

1 party in March

1 party in April

1 party in May

1 party in July

1 party in September

1 party in November

1 party in November

Individuals campaign

10 @ $100/each former Julliard volunteers goal = $1,000

85 @ $ 75/each former Americorps volunteers = $6,375

120 @ $ 50/each–local teachers goal = $6,000

200 @ $ 20/each–former graduates goal = $4,000

Major Donors: A number of our AmeriCorps volunteers come from affluent families. In the past, a few parents have given to our program without a request. This is because they see the great value the program provides to both the community and their children. Latifa will organize a campaign with the current AmeriCorps volunteers to solicit donations from parents of volunteers. As a result we anticipate a significant increase with support increasing from 4% of parents to 20% of parents.

Latifa will work with the AmeriCorps volunteers to prepare for asks by December 2014. New Major donor campaign April–June targeting the parents of volunteers. 20 parent donors @ $1,000/each = $20,000

Goal for individual donors = $54,875

Foundation fundraising Our 3 year grant from the Robin Hood Foundation includes a technical assistance grant to hire a foundation fundraising consultant to aid in a capital campaign with local foundations. The long list of foundation proposals submitted is made possible through this support from the Robin Hood Foundation.

Proposals to annual foundation donors:

$85,000 We Care United

$65,000 Youth Development Foundation

$15,000 Literacy Foundation

$20,000 New York Community Trust

$15,000 Arts for Youth Foundation Proposals foundations with board contact or some past grants:

$10,000 Con Edison Community Giving

$45,000 Carter Family Foundation

$20,000 Macy’s Employee Match Program

$20,000 The Major Foundation

$10,000 The Harkness Foundation

$15,000 MTA Workers Foundation

$30,000 Women of Jamaica Foundation

$15,000 Brooklyn Community Foundation

$45,000 American Express Foundation

$35,000 Shawn Carter Foundation

Total asks: $445,000 Goal for foundations = $242,500

Local Business and Corporations The Rider Street Community Center has connections with all of these businesses and many have been past donors. With a concerted campaign chaired by board members, and a demonstration of employee support in the individual campaign, we will increase support from current donors and bring on new corporate support.

Cultivate and make asks for corporate donations

$4,500 ABC Corp.

$7,000 Citigroup Inc.

$5,000 Footlocker

$2,500 Ben and Jerry’s

$3,500 Barnes and Noble

$5,000 Scholastic Corp

$1,000 Local Staples

Workplace and consumer giving in partnership with local businesses

$ 500 Supermarket

$ 100 Local Pizza

$1,000 Local Nursing Home

3 @ $75 each/Local Doctor’s office = $225

10 @ $100 each/Local Stores = $1,000

Goal for local businesses = $31,325

Associations of Individuals and Religious Institutions

Many of the members of these associations and religious institutions are volunteers at the Rider Street Center

and/or parents of student participants. They will help advocate for support along with a board contacts.

Cultivate and make asks

$ 5,000 Jamaican Women’s Association

$ 8,000 Brooklyn PTA

Organizations will run a fundraiser for Rider Street Community Center and collect donor information

$ 5,000 Caribbean American Association of Brooklyn

$ 5,000 Holy Trinity Church

Goal for associations = $23,000

Earned income strategies

Through increased visibility and contacts in the surrounding neighborhoods, we will increase the invitees to the annual

event and increase the support for student performances. Local organizations have shown interest in renting our

facilities and Silvia Raintree has volunteered to spearhead a rental program. Milton Davis and Samuel Beckett will

organize students to sell tickets to the benefit concert. Two popular local DJs have offered to promote the benefit

concert on their radio show.

Activities $8,000 Benefit concert tickets $5,000 Facilities rentals $5,000 Annual event tickets and tables 5 @ $500 each/Student performances = $2,500

Goal for earned income = $20,500

Total 2015 fundraising goal: $372,200

Committed funds

Government grants*

$475,000 Federal Government Grants

$130,000 State Grants

$ 50,000 City Matching Grant

Government grants = $655,000*

In-Kind Contribution*

In-Kind contributions= $200,000*

Investment Income*

In-Kind contributions= $6,000*

* Listed so that committed income can be leveraged.

Total 2015 funding: $1,233,200

Fundraising Calendar

Tasks & Activities

Person responsible

To be completed

by

$ Projection

January February March April May June Subtotals

Individual Fundraising

Annual event Jules/ board/ Dir/Latifa

15-Jun Mailing list 15th

Letters 15th

Mailing 1st Radio spots 1st

Event 15th 5,000

$5,000

House parties Jules/ Director

various Invites 15th

Mail 1st

House party logistics

Jules/ board

10 days before

20-Feb 15-Mar 15-Apr 15-May

House parties– Board member’s house

Jules/ board

5-May Flatbush 15th $2,000

Midwood 24th $2,000

East Flatbush 5th $2,000

$6,000

Major donor campaign

Latifa 30-Jun Complete prep Dec

30th $5,000

30th $5,000

30th $10,000

$20,000

Individual Jules 30-Apr Grads Grads Grads Teachers $14,000 campaigns– $1,000 $1,000 $2,000 $2,000 grads, teachers, volunteers

Teachers $2,000

Teachers $2,000

Volun. $2,500

Volun. Volun. $1,500 $2,500

Brooklyn PTA Jules/ Johnston

22-Mar $2,500 $2,500 $3,000 $8,000

Caribbean American Association

Jules/ N. Burton

30-May $2,500 $2,500 $5,000

Institutional Fundraising

Write proposals, calls to funders, meet funders, check-in, thank you

Damon/ Silvia

30-Jun Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing

NYCT, Arts for Youth, We Care United Foundation, Holy Trinity Church

Damon/ Silvia

13-Jan NYCT 13th $20,000

Arts for Youth 13th $15,000 We Care United $65,000

Holy Trinity Church 30th $1,000

Holy Trinity Church 30th $1,000

Holy Trinity Church 30th $1,000

$14,700

Corporation Fundraising

Proposals, meetings, thank you letters

Latifa/ Director

15-Dec Proposals ask 1st Meet 10th

Meeting, thank you

Meeting, thank you

Meeting, thank you

Meeting, thank you

Thank you

Fairway, Altria, Latifa/ 24-Apr Local Aria Citigroup Staples Taylor Conway $103,000

Citigroup, Nesta/staff pizza Hair 18th 4th Nursing 20th Conway depart- $100 Dresser $7,000 $1,000 Home $500 ment store, Altria $100 Fairway 18th Staples, local 30th 24th $1,000 pizza, Taylor $4,500 $500 Nursing Home, Aria Hair Dresser

Subtotals $28,100 $87,100 $19,500 $14,000 $11,500 $15,500 $175,700

Fundraising Calendar (cont.)

Tasks & Activities

Person

responsible

To be completed

by

$ Projection

July August September October November December Subtotals

Individual Fundraising

House parties– Board member’s house

Latifa/ board

15-Nov Flatlands 15th $2,000

Bed-Stuy 5th $2,000

Midwood 15th $2,000

Crown Heights 7th $2,000

$8,000

Benefit concert Jules/ Latifa/ Director

7-Jul $8,000 $8,000

Board contribution deadline

Jules/ E. Johnston

15-Oct $3,500 $3,500

Jamaican Women’s Association

Jules/ E. Cruz

15-Oct $2,500 $2,500 $5,000

Benevolent Society Jules/ H. Blake

10-Dec $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $5,000

Former Juilliard volunteers, former AmeriCorps volunteers

Jules/ current volun- teers

30-Nov $700 $700 $575 $200 $200 $2,375

Local teachers E. Johnston N. Jasper, H. Blake

30-Sep $500 $500 $1,000

Foundation Fundraising

Youth Development Latifa/ 30-Dec $62,100 Church Carter Church Literacy Church $127,100

Foundation, Carter Raintree 30th Family 30th Fnd. 20th 30th Family $1,000 12th $1,000 $15,000 $1,000 Foundation, $45,000 Church Literacy Church 30th Foundation, Holy 30th $1,000 Trinity Church $1,000

Corporation Fundraising

Con Edison Latifa/ 30-Nov Ben and Foot Barnes Scholas- $41,000 Community Giving, board Jerry’s Locker and tic Corp Foot Locker, Ben 4th 10th Noble 18th and Jerry’s, Barnes $2,500 $5,000 24th $5,000 and Noble, Con Ed Con Ed $3,500 Scholastic Corp. $10,000 30th contribution $15,000

Local stores, local

doctors

Latifa/ staff

30-Sep $425 $100 $525

Subtotals

Total

$85,300 $3,625 $67,675 $13,700 $24,200 $2,000 $192,500

$372,200

Evaluation Plan

Support and Income Cost Analysis

Notes: ¹Source of support include major donors; foundations; government grants and contracts; fees for service, gifts-in-kind, etc. ²Direct costs = ongoing expenses on people and equipment and items directly needed to secure funds from a given source. ³$ net income = $ total gross income minus $ direct costs.

SOURCE OF SUPPORT¹

$ GROSS

INCOME

%

OF GROSS

INCOME

$ DIRECT

COSTS²

$ NET

INCOME³

% OF TOTAL NET INCOME

% RESTRICTED

% UNRESTRICTED

Individuals, major donors

$54,875 4.5% $10,000 $44,875 3.8% 0% 100%

Associations of individuals &

religious institutions

$23,000 1.9% $3,000 $20,000 1.7% 0% 100%

Foundations

$242,500 19.8% $6,000 $236,500 19.9% 36%

64%

Business & corporations

$31,325 2.6% $5,000 $26,325 2.2% 15%

85%

Earned income (includes events)

$20,500 1.7% $3,000 $17,500 1.5% 0% 100%

Investment income $6,000 .5% $0 $6,000 .5% 0% 100%

Government $655,000 53.5% $3,000 $652,000 54.8% 100%

0%

In-kind contributions $200,000 16.4% $0 $200,000 16.8% 0% 100%

TOTALS $1,233,200 $30,000 $1,203,200 61% 39%

Possible and Projected Income

Sources

Last year’s revenue

Possible

Projected

Individuals, major donors

$9,625

$78,875

$54,875

Associations of individuals & religious institutions

$11,875

$28,000

$23,000

Foundations

$125,000

$275,000

$242,500

Business & corporations

$25,390

$41,325

$31,325

Earned income (includes events)

$7,510

$25,500

$20,500

Investment income

$6,000*

$6,000*

$6,000*

Government

$655,000*

$655,000*

$655,000*

In-kind contributions

$200,000*

$200,000*

$200,000*

Total

$1,040,400

$1,309,700

$1,233,200

To Raise

$448,700

$372,200

*Funds already committed or guaranteed

Targets and Milestones

Milestone Milestones Verification Details Projected # and %

1 The board approves a fundraising plan that will raise $372,200 in

addition to the $408,700 committed for the 2015 budget.

WHAT: Fundraising Plan approved by a board vote.

SOURCE: Director and Board

BY WHO: Director and Board

BY WHEN: May 1,2014

75% of the board of directors votes to approve the fundraising plan.

15% increase in 2015’s fundraising goal over 2014

2 Raise $134,700 by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

What: $134,700 raised.

Source: Fundraising Calendar

By Who: People listed as responsible for tasks in Fundraising Calendar and Fundraising Committee

By when: June 30, 2015

36% of goal raised

3 Raise $175,700 by the end of the second quarter of 2015.

What: $175,700 raised.

Source: Fundraising Calendar

By Who: People listed as responsible for tasks in Fundraising Calendar and Fundraising Committee

By when: June 30, 2015

47% of goal raised

4 Hold an annual event that raises $5,000

WHAT: Annual fundraising event

SOURCE: 1 letter to mailing list, 1 radio spot

BY WHO: Jules, Board of Directors, Latifa

BY WHEN: June 15, 2015

5% increase over last year’s event

5 Hold an evaluation meeting to assess the progress of meeting fundraising goals.

Evaluate progress on each stream of funding—Individuals, Foundation Funding, Corporate Fundraising, Government Funding.

What: Meeting to see if how fundraising plan is working.

Source: Report on funds raised to date, Fundraising Calendar and Plan

By Who: Fundraising Committee and Executive Committee of board, Development Director and Executive Director

By when: April 15, July 15, October 15, November 1, 2015

95% of committee members attend.

At least 30% of fundraising goal reached.

6 Raise $332,300 by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

What: $332,300 raised.

Source: Fundraising Calendar

By Who: People listed as responsible for tasks in Fundraising Calendar and Fundraising Committee

By when: March 30, 2015

89% of goal raised

7 By November 2015 7 house parties that raise $2,000 each.

WHAT: 7 house parties at board member’s houses. Each will raise $2,000

SOURCE: Jules/Board, Volunteer contacts

BY WHO: Jules and Board

BY WHEN: November 30,2014

100% increase in house parties

Target By December 31st

, 2015 raise $372,200 in addition to the $861,000

committed for the 2015 budget.

“The Ask” Script

(Note to Sustainability Training Participants—you may wish to prepare a specific ask for each of your initiatives--ie one

for businesses, one individuals, one for a capital support vs. program support, etc. Or you may wish to just modify a

general ask like the one below)

Rider Street Community Center has given the children of East New York the support they need to achieve success since

1975. In a city where only 69% of students ever graduate high school, 90% of program participants graduate high

school on time. Participant students have an 85% placement rate in colleges, technical schools, and/or art

conservatories immediately following high school graduation. In the six months following high school graduation, the

New York City average enrollment in higher education is 49%.

Right now the Rider Street Community Center is at a critical juncture. Our infrastructure is crumbling. With computers

growing older, equipment in need of updating, and cramped facilities we risk lowering our standards and a decline in

results. At the same time, our community has a growing need reflected by long waiting lists for our programs. Families

see the opportunities available to graduates of our programs and they want to enroll their children. In order to

accommodate these requests, we must expand our capacity.

That is why we are coming to you right now. Your contribution of $_____ would make a significant difference in our

ability to build on our strong heritage, expand our reach, and meet the needs of our community. Can I count on your

support?